President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday announced a N50 million donation to the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NSFC) towards the 2014 World Cup Finals scheduled to take place in Brazil.
Jonathan announced this at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly his decoration as the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club Worldwide.
The president was decorated by the president general of the club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, who was assisted by chairman of National Sports Commission and minister of sports, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, the director general of Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, and the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari.
He was given green and white agbada, green cap and a World Cup like trophy which serves as his staff of office, while Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, was given a green camouflage.
Speaking during the investiture, Jonathan said: “I count it a great honour for this conferment and decoration as the grand patron of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club Worldwide. I consider myself now formally recognized as number one supporter of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club. But this decoration is dedicated to all members of my cabinet and indeed all Nigerians of goodwill because without the support of the ministers in charge of sports and other ministers that play key role and indeed all Nigerians that continue to support you and our teams, the achievements would not be possible.
“I have always been keen supporter of our national teams in all sports. This ceremony, however, officially confers on me the formal responsibility of leading our supporters in cheering our national football teams whenever we are engaged in competitions. I hope to be with you in Brazil. The supporters clubs as you are all aware has come of age, having been in existence for about 57 years now.
“I am aware that the activities of the club centre primarily on rendering the necessary supports for all the national football teams anywhere they are involved in football competitions. I want to commend the supporters club for services to our great country. I am told some of you make great sacrifices of funding your trips to competitions in support of our national teams. Your services are voluntary and purely out of passion football and patriotism for your fatherland,” he said.
In his remarks, president general of the supporters club, Mr. Ladipo, said the group planned to travel with 1,000 supporters, made up of 500 from Nigeria and 500 Nigerians in the Diaspora.
He said the club decided to honour the president because of the numerous achievements his assistance has brought to sports in the country, football in particular.
“Why we decided to honour you is because of the numerous achievements of our national teams, this would not have been possible but for your support. Your luck gave us the U-17 World Cup Finals in 2013, the first time we took part in CHAN and we came home with the golden bronze. But for your fatherly support, we would not have qualified for the world cup. You have supported us in the past to support our teams,” he said.
